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One that really hit the spot for me was Charlie Nelson's Minstrella who very sadly didn't seem to train on.
She looked hugely exciting and whilst the media of the day were salivating over Forest Flower, I was quite
confident they were looking in the wrong direction...especially as the Balding horse was a dwarf with
seemingly little or no room for improvement - apologies to the anti-sizist brigade
Do they exist yet? I'm sure they will, given a bit of time.
Anyhow, with the 'tough as teak' Forest Flower beating Milligram in the Irish Guineas, it's clear I called that
one wrong...especially as it was a such a vintage generation - the 1986 2yo fillies (obv. 3yos of '87) were as
good as it gets with Miesque being the best of the lot...and that includes the colts!
Sadly, Forest Flower as well as Minstrella failed to shine again and both seemed to drop off the radar.
There's yet another 'bet' I lost...with jockey Tony Ives who I was chatting to at some sort of racing function
in Southport 1986 who seemed peeved and gave me a pretend 'poke me in the eye' sort of riposte when I
told him who I regarded as the better filly...worth far more than the photo Minstrella scrambled home in
at Phoenix Park
That was in relation to the Cheveley Park in which Ives was disqualified aboard Forest Flower.
The 80s were great days for racing and just to remind some...that generation was only 2 years after superb
lot of fillies, most notably Oh So Sharp & Triptych.
She looked hugely exciting and whilst the media of the day were salivating over Forest Flower, I was quite
confident they were looking in the wrong direction...especially as the Balding horse was a dwarf with
seemingly little or no room for improvement - apologies to the anti-sizist brigade
Do they exist yet? I'm sure they will, given a bit of time.
Anyhow, with the 'tough as teak' Forest Flower beating Milligram in the Irish Guineas, it's clear I called that
one wrong...especially as it was a such a vintage generation - the 1986 2yo fillies (obv. 3yos of '87) were as
good as it gets with Miesque being the best of the lot...and that includes the colts!
Sadly, Forest Flower as well as Minstrella failed to shine again and both seemed to drop off the radar.
There's yet another 'bet' I lost...with jockey Tony Ives who I was chatting to at some sort of racing function
in Southport 1986 who seemed peeved and gave me a pretend 'poke me in the eye' sort of riposte when I
told him who I regarded as the better filly...worth far more than the photo Minstrella scrambled home in
at Phoenix Park
That was in relation to the Cheveley Park in which Ives was disqualified aboard Forest Flower.
The 80s were great days for racing and just to remind some...that generation was only 2 years after superb
lot of fillies, most notably Oh So Sharp & Triptych.
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I remember Cordoba winning its 1st race and people at the time thought it was the new Nijinsky
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Tromos/ Xaar /Arazi.
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The AOB trained Air Force Blue, winner of the Phoenix, National and Dewhurst stakes as a 2 year old (won 4 from 5, runner up in the Coventry).
Went to Newmarket as the 4/5f for the 2000 Guineas, finished 12th of 13. In his next 3 races was 7th of 8, 12th of 18 and last of 7. Retired to stud and hasn't sired anything of note. |
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With respect to Geoff...they all topped the free handicap so everyone was well aware of
those, who too were disappointing - they were in hindsight 'the finished article' as 2yo. I was leaning towards those that you figured would end up brilliant after 'discovering' them in lower grades - yet they failed to make the anticipated progress. DB's example was a perfect one - and I have to admit...#metoo |
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One of the most dissapointing must be Try My Best.
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The truly great racehorses are those that shine at 2, 3 and sometimes 4 yr old. Frankel being an all time great imo.
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Andrew - we seem to see that every season with Aidan's 2yo
 One Cool Cat was another relative embarrassment considering what he was supposed to be gonna do - I just ignore ALL the media hype. Especially the noises from Coolmore - it's insane just how wrong they regularly get it. |
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Red Rum - won first time out as a 2yo (dead-heat) - but all downhill after that.
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Johannesburg
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Since I gave Charlie Nelson a mention with Minstrella...how's about Arctic Tracker
for a real memory jogger? |
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High Estate
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Armiger & Distant Music.
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Cawston's Pride 1970 - Filly rated just 2lb below Mill Reef and 1lb behind Brigadier Gerard. 8 runs 8 wins. Broke the Ascot track record in the Cornwallis against the boy. beating Mummys Pet by 4 lengths which put her on a par with the Brigadier or ahead of him with wfs.
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Timeless Times - won 16 of his 21 races as a 2yo - but didn't train-on for some reason
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Penzance - I remember thinking Armiger was a nailed-on Derby winner when he
bounded away on the soft at Doncaster - were there any reasons you can recall for him coming up short as a 3yo? Although all the horses mentioned above did disappoint in their 3yo seasons, they did at least reach the top of the tree as juveniles, and so ensured stallion careers. Just thought of another couple with early pretensions for the highest grade from big stables whose reputations were derailed...Zajal & Samoan. I don't think I've ever seen a comparable exaggerated action as the latter. That saying...'grabbed the ground' must've been invented to describe him. |
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He won @ Chester but didn't go to Epsom.
Might've picked up a slight Knock? I remeber him getting well btn in the Arc. |
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Which Armiger are we talking about? Henry Cecil's one had trouble as a three year old but was 2nd in the Leger. and beaten in the Leger. He did not win at three but was a top 2year old
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He won the Chester Vase @3 ,sure he did?
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Beaten in the Arc as Penzance says.
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Alhaarth you could say, was another.
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Correct Penzance - For some reason I was thinking his Chester win was at 2
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Two of the more obvious ones, Tromos and Arazi.
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Just checked up on Armiger who was foaled in 1990 - that was the same crop as Tenby &
the eventual Derby winning, second string Commander In Chief, who was unraced at two. Tenby, who was unbeaten come Derby Day, was hammered at odds-on though he somewhat redeemed himself when close up in Opera House's Eclipse but over all, has to be considered a very disappointing 3yo after three subsequent savage beatings - I wonder what excuses were proffered for him? |
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Tenby was too wee, Arazi had chips on knee joint after winning in States and was operated on I think, was 6/4 with a run for Derby.
Remember the big match, Arazi v Rodrigo D T , finished 3rd and 4th, can't rem race. |
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*5th and 4th in St James Palace at RA over a 1m 1992
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SJP Stks
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Peter Davies
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High Estate of Cecil's was fav for 2000G and Derby end of 2YO year in late 80s.
Can't recall if it even ran at 3 tho, maybe was injured |
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Lujain
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John Gosden once famously said:
"You can always argue the Guineas is the last two-year-old race" In which case you'd have to say Zafonic |
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Provideo , Spindrifter , Timeless Times .........didn't see any of them in a classic........
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Crocket. The first time I heard and understood the term "not trained on" around 1963 I would think.
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The Pocket Rocket,flattened out at three but still won in listed company.
Was one of only three 2yo to win against older horses at two in gp1. Name tother two? |
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Attraction?
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Kingsgate Native?
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Lyric Fantasy?
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Lyric Fantasy & Kingsgate Native both won at York.
Sigy won the Abbaye as well. |
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And of course The Platinum Queen a few weeks ago.
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Attraction?
1000G wnr amongst other GP1 races. |